On the weekend of Saturday 29 June 2019, I attended several summer events in Walsall. These events were part of the Mayor's Community Weekend and were realised with the help of the National Lottery Community Fund, which awarded £85,000 to 170 groups across the West Midlands.

This Armed Forces Day, I pledged support for the servicemen and women who defend our country.

I met Richard Ratcliffe and Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of Amnesty International, outside the Iranian Embassy when Richard was on the 13th day of his hunger strike.

It is Armed Forces Day on Saturday to honour the men and women who make up our armed forces. The Leader of the Opposition and the shadow Defence Secretary are announcing our five pledges to support the forces and their families—fair pay, decent housing, a voice for servicemen and women, an end to privatisation, and support for forces children—but there has been a real-terms pay cut for our servicemen and women over the past seven years. The starting salary of an Army private is now £1,150 lower in real terms than in 2010.

This summer, children aged 4-11 have the opportunity to borrow, read and talk about their favourite books by taking part in the exciting Summer Reading Challenge.